Jackie Robinson West May Leave Little League International

By Margaret Paulson in News on Mar 11, 2015 3:25PM

The tumultuous saga of Jackie Robinson West continues this morning. According to a source of Mark Konkol, the reporter who broke the JRW story at DNAinfo Chicago, former league leader Bill Haley is exploring having JRW leave Little League International and join with the Cal Ripken or Babe Ruth youth baseball league instead.

Still, much is uncertain right now for Little League International District 4, which consists of JRW and five other leagues. According to DNAinfo, there’s talk that league officials are considering dismantling District 4— left leaderless after the recent ousting of league administrator Mike Kelley for his part in the cheating scandal— and sending the teams to Districts 7 and 12. However, this move is seen as punitive to other District 4 teams and leaders who had no part in the re-drawing of district boundaries to recruit better players. DNAinfo Chicago spoke to Little League spokesman Brian McClintock who told them that officials have “not yet been able to consult with Jackie Robinson West Little League representatives concerning the district issue.” Currently the recently revamped JRW website took down any Little League affiliation from their page.

This unfortunately is just another blow in the ongoing saga surrounding the JRW team and their story. Just last week, whistleblower Chris Janes— the Evergreen Park Little League coach who first raised concern about JRW— was arrested in the early morning hours after a raucous night out and charged with disorderly conduct, public intoxication, resisting arrest and assault, among other charges. Earlier that day, JRW’s lawyers filed a request with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to request investigation into whether Janes illegally obtained the information used in his complaint filed with Little League International, which contained vehicle registration and school records.